Give Movies A Chance Vol. 2

Give Movies A Chance

Issue 2 / June 2020

Living in COVID: what’s next for the future of movies? pg. 8 What’s new on streaming pg. 4 Celebrity Hall of Fame pg. 6 Why Andrew Scott can’t stop getting hotter pg. 11

PLUS an all-new feature: From Books to Film pg. 12

Give Movies A Chance

2

Letter from the Editor

H

ello everyone, and thank you for reading another issue of “Give Movies A Chance”!

This has been such a thrilling effort to share with you all as I dive into the movie world. It’s been a bit difficult with the COVID-19 pandemic keeping movie theaters on pause, and I look forward to sitting in my favorite theater again with a big bucket of popcorn! Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to find some newer releases to introduce you to, or movies that are available on streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Vudu.

I am excited for you to see some new things in this issue, such as the Rants & Raves, From Books to Film, and Celebrity Hall of Fame. I’m always looking for new submissions, whether you would like to send in a review of your own or a photo you’ve taken with someone in the tv/film industry.

Currently, I’m working on creating an Instagram account for Give Movies A Chance, so be on the lookout for that as you browse the app. In the meantime, you can check us out for the latest in movie news on my Facebook page for Give Movies A Chance.

I hope you’ll enjoy what you see, and feel free to recommend something to watch! There are a number of films out

there that I haven’t seen that people are surprised about (like “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure”, for example!). I’m working on it! I watch such a mix of genres, that some of the older films have just slipped me by.

Happy reading!

Brittany Mulligan

New releases...

Pg. 4 Actor spotlight: Andrew Scott...

Pg. 11

Celebrity Hall of Fame...

Pg. 6 From Books to Film...

Pg. 12

On the cover: What’s next for movie lovers...

Pg. 8 Flashback reviews...

Pg. 13

Issue 2 / June 2020

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Rants & Raves

Everyone’s a critic - send us your rants and raves but keep it short, please! Submit 200 words or less to givemoviesachance@gmail.com to see your rant/rave/ rebuttal featured here!

Just Mercy

Less of a story about the problems in the justice system, and more about a story of someone who is Black who wants to save his people. Honestly, that is a big inspiration to see. Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx gave some powerful performances.

Hail, Caesar!

What is Hail, Caesar!? What isn’t Hail, Caesar!? It’s a comedy, a noir, a historical epic, a musical (of two different varieties), and a melodrama.

It’s a movie about the glory days of the industry that churns them out, and how the system so often resembled 1,000 spinning plates wobbling in perfect harmony for a split second. It’s a film about faith, and the pivotal role that it plays in one man’s search for meaning amidst the chaos of existence.

Mary and the Witch’s Flower

Aesthetically beautiful, but just didn’t grip me with the same emotion as some other anime films have.

Still a cute and adventurous story, although fairly predictable at times and very heavily influenced by Studio Ghibli. It was enjoyable, just not great.

Sinister 2

This one has me conflicted.

On one hand, it feels a lot more

like a Children of the Corn film (which has been said to be a huge influence on this one) than it does to a sequel to Sinister, but it does dive deeper into the mythology set up in the first film. Also, it has an extremely interesting sub-plot involving abuse that threw me off guard, and while it didn’t entirely work, it was a welcome inclusion to an already dark and (clears throat) sinister film.

The Evil Dead

I watched Evil Dead for the first time in my early teens and I remember being both scared and in awe. It wasn’t like anything I had ever seen before and I’m overcome with that same awe every time I watch it.

Extraction

This film is exactly what I expected it to be. It’s Chris Hemsworth running around being a complete bad-ass whilst killing some bad guys. The action is quite good and Hemsworth himself puts in a decent performance.

Bloodshot

If you’ve ever seen a Vin Diesel movie, then you’ve pretty much seen every Vin Diesel movie.

The Lost City of Z It’s rare to find a movie these days that believes in adventure and sincerity and pure storytelling as

interchangeable qualities, and lives up to all of them.

Emma (2020)

Predominantly shot on location at Chavenage House, a 16th-century English country house located in the southwestern county of Gloucestershire, Emma is a beautiful movie to look at from director Autumn de Wilde. What’s more, Eleanor Catton adapts the source material admirably, and the charismatic Anya Taylor-Joy is charming in the titular role alongside the inescapably amusing Bill Nighy.

The Invisible Man

The utter hopelessness of the situation the main character is put in is one of the scariest things I’ve seen in a movie in years.

The Aeronauts

A tad too many flashbacks stints this movie from elevating how intriguing the subject matter is.

There are moments where you feel genuine tension arising, particularly when the film is set within the clouds, but every now and then it cuts back to show Amelia on land, where the film suddenly turns into a generic period piece.

Give Movies A Chance

New releases

4

The Lovebirds

By James Davidson

“The Lovebirds” is an action-comedy film that debuted exclusively on Netflix in May of this year. It stars Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani as Leilani and Jibran, a couple who have hit somewhat of a rough spot in their fairly new relationship.

The two break up on the way to a dinner party, and immediately after they break up, Jibran hits a bicyclist with his car. The man quickly gets up and runs away before the couple can see if he is alright. A strange man then comes up to them claiming to be a police officer and takes their car and proceeds to run the cyclist over several times before running away.

Jibran and Leilani, believing that they will be blamed for the murder of the mysterious cyclist, run away and begin to unravel the mystery of the the cyclist and the strange, mustachiod man that actually committed the murder. The recently estranged couple quickly find themselves relying on each other as they find themselves in increasingly hilarious and dangerous situations.

I was a bit skeptical of this movie at first.

Based on the name, I originally thought it was going to be a cheesy romantic-comedy, My pessimism was quickly put to rest, however, once the movie started and I totally enjoyed myself throughout this film. I was worried that the comedy would be a little too kitsch and the plot would be a little too unambiguous.

The comedy turned out not to be too cheesy at all, I was quite impressed with the jokes and found myself laughing through most of the movie. The jokes were original and actually had some depth to them. I didn’t feel like I was being pandered to like I do in some comedies, all of the laughs were earned and there weren’t any cheap jokes without only substance.

The plot itself was fairly entertaining. While it was fairly simple there was some substance to the story. I did think that the plot was very predictable. Even though the plot was a bit conventional, I ended up becoming engrossed in the story nonetheless. I did guess some of the “surprise” endings pretty early on in the movie

though. Even though the plot was predictable, the comedy kept the movie fresh and light and I was able to overlook the formulaic nature of the plot.

The acting added a bit of complexity to the movie as well. The chemistry between Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani was incredible. I really believed that they were a couple having issues but still harbored feelings for one another. I really enjoyed watching the scenes where the two of them got to feed off of one another, they really did an excellent job together and it added more complexity to the film.

This movie is rated “R” for sexual content, language throughout, and some violence.

While this movie is hilarious and would be a great movie for couples to spend an evening in with each other watching, you might want to make sure the kids are out of the room for this film. There is a lot of adult language and adult situations that would make it inappropriate for families with young children. If you are ok with movies with those sorts of things in them, this might be a good movie to watch with older teenagers however and could be an entertaining night.

“The Lovebirds” is a hilarious movie with some fantastic acting, the main characters have incredible chemistry together. While the story is very entertaining, it can be quite predictable and a little unoriginal, but this movie really makes up for that with the comedy. This movie will have you rolling on the floor laughing with your significant other or group of friends. I would definitely watch this movie again and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good, funny, light comedy. It earns 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Issue 2 / June 2020

5

Becoming

By Brittany Mulligan Directed by Nadia Hallgren Rating: B+

F

ormer First Lady Michelle Obama’s documentary “Becoming” takes a further intimate look behind the scenes of her life as she goes on a book tour of the same name.

Although I haven’t picked up Mrs. Obama’s memoir yet, the documentary felt like a cozy companion piece to her story. It’s a heartfelt, inspiring story that kind of makes you wonder, where is hope now when we need it most?

The cameras take viewers on Mrs. Obama’s cross-country tour, even making a brief stop at her family home in Chicago. We get to see her interactions with groups of women in schools, museums, bookstores, and church.

These lucky ladies had the opportunity to ask Mrs. Obama aspiring questions, looking for answers that would inspire them to make a difference, be noticed, like her.

While the documentary wants to try and focus on Mrs. Obama’s journey since leaving the White House, which she briefly discusses, a lot of the exposition fell to her own reflections.

We learn a little about her growing up with dreams of following her older brother’s footsteps by going to Princeton - and being told by a guidance counselor she should dream on, how she later met her future husband Barack Obama while attending Harvard, the struggles of being on the campaign trail with him, and raising two girls in the White House.

If there’s one thing Mrs. Obama wants you to know, it’s that you’re valued, and don’t let anyone tell you different. For someone who talks about diversity a lot, I think it would have been more inspiring to include men

in some of her intimate group discussions.

Maybe she did, and the documentary chose not to show this, but shouldn’t we be teaching our boys and girls, men and women, that we’re all valued? That we all should believe in ourselves and push ourselves harder to achieve our goals?

To be fair, there was scene in which Mrs. Obama met with a few high school students, both boys and girls, in Arizona who live on the Reservation, and she certainly does her best to motivate and encourage them to do the best they can in school.

By watching the documentary, it’s pretty amazing to see what Mrs. Obama has achieved. She is not one to be overshadowed.

Not by society, and certainly not by her husband. She worked too hard for that, and we could see how becoming a mother took a slight toll on her as she had to put less focus on her dreams to raise two girls.

Now, with her husband out of the Oval Office and her two girls grown up, Mrs. Obama can continue her good works and hopefully can keep inspiring hope while we live in a world where neighbor turns on neighbor.

I think whether you like documentaries or not, “Becoming” is an interesting film to see because it gives you a perspective you may not be familiar with. It might just inspire you, too.

Give Movies A Chance

6

Celebrity Ha

Alma Nazario, Diana Gabaldon, Alma Ortiz

Tam Matt and Jason Momoa at MegaCon Orlando

Heather Ferman, Tricia Leedom,

Issue 2 / June 2020

7

all of Fame

Alyssa Nichols with friends and Leslie Odom Jr.

Diana Gabaldon, Karen Diaz Fabian Chavarria, Dan Fogler, Mika Caravette, Lilah

Kim Beatty Tuero with Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles

John Barrowman, Isabelle Mulligan, David Tennant

Give Movies A Chance Editor’s note: A few days before the publication, AMC has come out with a statement saying it has “substantial doubt” whether the company can remain in business following the Coronavirus pandemic. Additioanlly, with Universal bypassing the release of its film “Trolls: World Tour” for a digital release, AMC has banned Universal films from showing at any of its theaters.

Authored by Oisín Ó Ruacháinn

T

here is something special about going to the theaters; the immensity of the building, the smell of popcorn permeating the very walls, the thrill of seeing the name and trailers of each new movie—everything comes together to provide that magical feeling of seeing a film on the silver screen, and being immersed in the moviegoing experience.

Currently, the moviegoing experience is in hibernation with no alarm-clock in sight. Theater parking lots are dead.

The huge ‘AMC’ lettering above the double-doors remains unlit, the booths outside shuttered.

What lies in store for cinephiles in the coming months? What will theaters look like, even when they do reopen?

As of late April, according to Pamala McClintock with The Hollywood Reporter, AMC theaters won’t be opening their doors until a new summer blockbuster is offered—films such as “Tenet” and “Mulan” are possible contenders.

Throughout the country, major theaters are opening at various times, according to state regulation. For instance, New York’s theaters may not be opening until Phase 4, while some Georgia areas have reopened theaters See EXPERIENCE, page 10

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What’s next fo

The theater expe

Issue 2 / June 2020

or movie lovers?

erience in 2020

9

Give Movies A Chance

Experience

10

From page 8

during Phase 1.

Smaller theaters and more local chains are of course incentivized to open earlier, as many other businesses have already, but enforcing social distancing within the confines of a theater may offer unique difficulties.

While we may not be able to see the latest film in-theater, however, there are a growing number of major studios (including Disney and Universal Studios) that are offering new releases at a premium for home viewing—a risky action that is now paying off in spades. For example, “Trolls: World Tour” (2020) was originally set to be released widely in theaters, but

by April, it had become clear that the pandemic was something that needed to be seriously considered.

On April 10, “Trolls” released in select theaters as well as a digital rental, breaking worldwide sales records for digital media and resulting in an impressively resounding success.

There is also the traditional alternative to movie theaters: drive-ins. There are a surprising number of drive-in theaters which have been given more notice than ever before, and, according to Chauncey Alcorn with CNN, some businesses have also begun to open their parking lots for a drive-in experience—some even with a sold-out lot!

All of the rosy numbers above, however, should be taken with a grain of salt.

Watching movies isn’t just about a studio’s

bottom-line, and there’s a huge difference between ‘going to the movies’ and watching a film at home—if there wasn’t, Netflix would have killed the theaters long before the pandemic did. Drive-in ‘theaters’ also have their downsides.

So, what does the future hold for cinephiles, movie-goers, nervous teenagers and bored seniors? Shall we be forced to make the switch to digital rental, and witness the slow demise of the theatre experience?

Of course not.

Like any pandemic, there will be crests and troughs in the impact of the virus, and eventually things will calm down to a relative normalcy. What that normalcy looks like, whether it be more similar to pre-pandemic standard or have morphed into something else entirely, remains to be seen.

In the meantime, look forward to digital rentals, chuck some popcorn in the microwave, and enjoy seeing the latest movies from the comfort of your couch—and together, we’ll sit in our living rooms, have a nice cold pint, and wait for all this to blow over.

Issue 2 / June 2020

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Actor Spotlight: Andrew Scott

By Brittany Mulligan

A

ndrew Scott has been one lucky actor enjoying frequent waves of success.

Currently riding on the high after appearing as “Priest” (but lovingly referred by the public as “Hot Priest”) on Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s successful Amazon Prime show “Fleabag”, Andrew Scott has television shows and film producers after him.

Andrew Scott first caught my eye after appearing on the BBC’s “Sherlock” (20102017) as the villain “Moriarty”; and even though he has less than 25 minutes worth of dialogue in the whole series, fans went crazy for him, including me.

What was it about this actor that drove fans to flock to the internet and start writing fanfiction? Could it be his soft Irish accent or his ability to portray an evil villain that was the perfect foil to

Sherlock?

Well, that spark of creativity fanned a modest flame of desirability as Andrew Scott found himself in numerous roles post “Sherlock” and in bigger parts, too.

From Disney’s “Alice Through the Looking Glass” to appearing in the Bond movie “Spectre”, Andrew Scott has had a fair share of roles to pick from.

He even managed to wriggle out of being typecast as the bad boy, the antagonist, landing a softer spot as “Gethin” in “Pride”, “Tobin” in “Modern Love” and soon to debut in Showtime’s new series “Ripley” in the lead role.

It only took a few years for the rest of the world to catch up on Andrew Scott’s genius. With his role in “Fleabag”, it feels like the secret is out as even friends of mine are now thawing out to the obsession that is Andrew Scott.

This star is only burning brighter, and it is only going to get even more Andrew Scott as exciting to “Moriarty” in the BBC’s “Sherlock” see Andrew Scott take on (above left); Andrew Scott more roles starring opposite now that Phoebe Wallerhe’s getting Bridge as “Priest” cozy with and “Fleabag” Hollywood. (bottom left).

Give Movies A Chance

12

From Books to Film: In Her Shoes

By Cynthia M. Hall (abridged from article in 385life.com)

I

t’s been 15 years since the film “In Her Shoes” released in 2005, and I still can›t believe it. The movie featured A-list actresses Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette in the title roles, supported by the ever-fierce, Shirley MacLaine. The film debuted to mostly positive reviews -- revered by the infamous Roger Ebert, although panned by the Washington Post -- and it’s based on the novel of the same name, written by Jennifer Weiner.

“In Her Shoes” is a fictional family drama set in Philadelphia. It follows the strong, volatile relationship between two sisters as they navigate their lives and attempt to come to grips with their past, present, and future.

Other than their shoe size, the women are polar opposites; Rose (Collette) the somewhat mousy over-achiever, and Maggie (Diaz) the femme fatale underachiever.

They pull and push on each other as only sisters can; each equipped with all the answers to solve the other sister›s problems. As they argue, harangue, and push each other away, they realize truths long ago buried about themselves, their family, and each other.

The story pulls on delicate heartstrings, is honest in the volatile nature of sisterhood, and poignantly exposes the effects of mental illness on the entire family. “In Her Shoes” also showcases the importance of extended family members and the crucial role they play in our lives.

The secondary cast of characters

provides enough comic relief to balance the drama. This includes a couple of cool Book Boyfriends and offbeat residents in “a retirement community for active seniors.”

As you can imagine, the story arcs go much deeper than the movie, revealing frailties and triumphs for several characters not expressed in the film.

The pace could be considered slow at times, the drama unfolding gently through the plot as the sisters and their estranged grandmother grapple with their mistakes while trying to make amends.

The story of Rose, Maggie and their grandmother Ella reminds you of the strength required to pull through trauma and pain, not only for yourself but for the sake of your loved ones as well.

“In Her Shoes” would be a welcome addition to any of the following book club themes: Sisters Only Book Club Read it & See it Book Club (read the book and watch the movie) Food & Fiction Book Club Summer Reading Book Club Female Authors Book Club

Issue 2 / June 2020

Flashback reviews

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The Stag

By Brittany Mulligan Andrew Scott, Hugh O’Conor, Peter McDonald, Brian Gleeson, Andrew Bennett, Michael Legge Directed by John Butler Rating: B+ Post-credits scene: No

A group of friends go on a religious, silent walk with trannies in the woods for a stag weekend; at least, that’s what they tell the groom’s soon-to-be brother-in-law.

What sounds like an Irish “Hangover” copycat (minus the going on a hunt to find the groom the next day) turns out to be a charming tale that brings the gang together stronger than before, plus a new friend. At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy “The Stag” (otherwise known as “The Bachelor Weekend” in the States), but as it went on, I laughed a little and felt cheered by some of its resolutions.

Fionan (O’Conor), the groom, is obsessed with planning his wedding, but there’s one tradition he’s not okay with: stag night. He claims he couldn’t care less to spend a forced occasion with a bunch of men talking about manly things (um, hello? Even if it’s with your brother and best friend??), but his fiancée is desperate for him to man up, and so she begs the best man, Davin (Scott) to set something up. Davin is clearly harboring feelings for the fiancée but keeps it close to the chest because what kind of jerk reveals that to the groom, A.K.A. his best friend?

While the other members of the group also harbor personal issues, there’s one person who clearly has no problem diving in and sorting things out: The Machine (McDonald), the fiancée’s brother. Seriously, that’s his nickname. It’s supposed to sound as obnoxious as it seems, but like any good movie, people grow and change by the end. So, while Fionan and Davin are determined to leave without The Machine, he shows up on the stag weekend anyway. At first, it’s torture, then it gets worse, but by the end, you’re actually kind of okay with him as a human being.

By the end, there are still some characters who haven’t really changed and will probably wake up the next morning feeling back to their same miserable selves, but the movie cuts out before you can really get to that point.

“The Stag” is a fun movie that may be a little awkward to watch around parents but it’s fun, a little heartwarming, and may make you feel prone to planning an adventure with friends.

Give Movies A Chance

Onward

14

By James Davidson

“Onward” is a new animated film from Disney/Pixar. It was released in theaters In March of 2020 and was put on Disney’s Disney+ streaming platform soon after.

Disney+ is Disney’s streaming service that is similar to Netflix and is available for $6.99 a month. Disney decided to place “Onward” on the new streaming service in light of the Covid-19 pandemic when the theatrical release was cut short.

“Onward” takes place in a fantasy world where elves, centaurs, and other mythical creatures exist in a modern styled world.

Magic exists in this world, but it is mostly a forgotten legend of the past and not practiced in the current time. Two elvish brothers, Ian, and Barley Lightfoot, set out on an epic, Dungeon and Dragons style quest to find a magical stone to bring their deceased father back for one day.

I was pretty excited to see this movie. I love movies and books that have fantasy elements to them, I even played quite a bit of Dungeons and Dragons in my younger, single days. This movie has a lot of Dungeons and Dragons themes to it, which I really enjoyed, it even has a version of the game in the mythical world that is based on “historical facts” that Barley is very involved in.

I enjoyed how the film took fantasy elements and put a comical, modern twist on them. Like making Unicorns exist, but instead of rare, majestic creatures, they are dirty common pests similar to raccoons or squirrels. I thought it was an original humorous take on fantasy and I laughed at a lot of the fantasy tropes that were poked fun at.

I really enjoyed the plot of the movie. It felt like an epic quest that had some unlikely heroes with the one “nerdy” brother and the one who thought all of the fantasy stuff was ridiculous. I loved the brothers’ relationship with each other and how they played off of each other, it reminded me a lot of my brother and I and how we interact.

The plot also deals a lot with the brothers

searching for a way to meet their father, who passed away when both were too young to really remember him. I thought that this added an interesting layer to both of the characters in how it affected each one differently and affected their relationship with each other.

The plot is much more complex and compelling than I was expecting and really drew me into the magical world. There were many interesting layers through the story and it made me appreciate the complexity of the writing and storytelling. It was intriguing to see all of the characters interact with each other and evolve throughout the movie.

While the plot was complex and intriguing, the story added just the right amount of humor and silliness to keep the movie from being too heavy. There were several ridiculous things that happened, such as floating on a giant cheese puff down a river instead of a boat, that added a much needed element of humor that had me chuckling through the whole story.

“Onward” is rated PG for action/peril and some mild thematic elements. It’s a great family movie and a perfect movie for the whole family to gather around and watch while everybody is stuck at home.

This movie is a fantastic fantasy film that has something for everybody in your family.

It has some fantastic visuals. I recommend this movie for anyone and it’s a great way to pass the time while sheltering-in-place. I will definitely be watching this movie again and will recommend it to anyone interested in fantasy, or just anyone who loves a good, family friendly movie. It earns 5 out of 5 stars.

Issue 2 / June 2020

By Brittany Mulligan

Just Mercy

15

Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, Rafe Spall Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton Rating: A

W

hile not technically a new release, “Just Mercy” is being offered free throughout the month of June on digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV, YouTube, Google Play, Redbox, and Microsoft to name a few. After the devastating murder of George Floyd and protests popping up across the country, the film’s distributor, Warner Bros. said in a statement that it felt it was important to educate the public about systematic racism.

“Just Mercy” is a movie based on the memoir of civil rights activist and lawyer Bryan Stevenson, played by Michael B. Jordan. It highlights his early career when a Harvard lawyer from Delaware begins his Equal Justice Initiative in a state rife with racism in the late 1980s.

As Stevenson packs his car for the move, his family expresses their anxiety that he may get killed doing his job and that he just doesn’t understand what it means to be a Black man in Alabama.

Stevenson learns quickly that the mission he feels passionately about is not going to be easy. Upon arriving in Montgomery, Stevenson finds his new Director of Operations Eva Ansley (Larson) arguing with the building manager who refuses to rent them space for their Equal Justice Initiative organization. This is all because the EJI aims to offer free legal counsel to people who need help, but the building manager doesn’t like that they’re helping inmates on death row. The following day, when Stevenson arrives at a prison to interview those on death row, he is forced to undergo an illegal strip search by a prison guard.

Then Stevenson meets Walter MacMillian (Foxx), an innocent man on death row who is also known by the community as Johnny D. MacMillian was framed for the murder of an 18-year-old girl at a dry cleaner, and the only witness on the case is another inmate coerced by local officials to lie. The truth of the matter was that MacMillian was surrounded by family and neighbors the day of the murder but no testimony ever went to court. Having been

imprisoned for two years and losing all of his money to lawyers not doing their job, MacMillian has no faith in what he sees as a young, naive lawyer who doesn’t understand the Alabama culture.

While the film focuses heavily on Stevenson’s investigation of MacMillian’s case, it’s not boring. This is a drama that shows the intensity and unfairness of being a Black man in the South, and how easily those in power (such as the sheriff who was on the murder case) can twist the outcome of an innocent person’s life.

MacMillian is beaten down by the system and has little faith that he will ever be reunited with his family again. He sees Stevenson fight for his friend on death row, Herbert Richardson (played by Rob Morgan), for freedom. That’s a whole other storyline in itself, although brief, but a poignant one. Richardson is a Vietnam War veteran with PTSD, and never receives the hospitalization he clearly needs. He struggles with night terrors and anxiety, which his neighboring friend MacMillian guides him through breathing exercises to calm him down.

On the whole, “Just Mercy” does more than bring to light the horrible nature of systematic racism, it also peels back layers of the criminal justice system. At the end of the movie, a statement reads, “For every 9 people who have been executed in the U.S., one person on death row has been proven innocent and released, a shocking rate of error.”

“Just Mercy” is a powerful movie that needs to be seen, it needs to be talked about, and those watching it can make a difference in their own lives by changing their behaviors.

For more information on the Equal Justice Initiative and its mission today, you can visit www.eji.org.

Give Movies A Chance

16

Hector and the Search for Happiness

By Brittany Mulligan Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer Directed by Peter Chelson Rating: A

O

ne of the recent additions to Netflix’s Instant Watch is Hector and the Search for Happiness starring Simon Pegg. Usually Pegg can be found in comedic roles but he takes a serious turn in this inspirational film based on the novel by François Lelord.

It’s the same plot as most motivating films (Eat, Pray, Love or The Secret Life of Walter Mitty) but nonetheless it makes you reflect on your life and begs the question, “Are you happy?”

Pegg plays the role of Hector, a boring psychiatrist who has a good life with a woman he loves but has lost his drive to do what makes him happy. One day he decides to travel to China for research purposes, but it’s too last minute to take his girlfriend with him. She is understandably upset but this journey is one Hector needs to make by himself.

Throughout his trip from China to Africa to Los Angeles, Hector asks the people he meets what happiness means to them.

Sometimes this question gets him in trouble with tough people who think he’s making a joke (like when he meets a drug lord in Africa). Most of the answers he hears mention spending time with loved ones. Along the way he realizes what it is to miss his girlfriend and that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. It took time to travel and try new experiences for Hector to find what happiness is.

Throughout the movie there are references to the comic Tintin (created

by the Belgian cartoonist named Georges Remi). Hector seems to identify with Tintin who travels with his fluffy white dog, Snowy. Tintin’s comics are found on Hectors bookshelf and in various scenes he daydreams of a younger self traveling with a brown and white dog. Hector also resembles Tintin a little and Pegg played a character in The Adventures of Tintin which was released in theaters in 2011.

One of the props I liked to see in the movie was Hector’s journal. When he experienced some new aspect of happiness or heard something motivating he wrote it down. He created a list of lessons learned from 1) Making comparisons can spoil your happiness to 14) Happiness is to be loved for exactly who you are. As a somewhat serious movie, Hector and the Search for Happiness has its funny and sad moments. Hector realizes his life isn’t special and leaves on a trip to find out what makes people happy so he can be a better psychiatrist for his patients. He learns what love is and how to let an old flame die.

Issue 2 / June 2020

17

The Rewrite

By Brittany Mulligan

Hugh Grant, Marisa Tomei, J.K. Simmons, Bella Heathcote Directed by Marc Lawrence Rating: B

Sleeping with a student is not a good way to start the first day of teaching.

Keith Michaels (Grant) is a one-time hit Hollywood screenwriter who takes a teaching position at a northeastern university because he can’t get any other work. He arrives at a Wendys in Binghamton, New York, jetlagged and overwhelmed when college students recognize him for his Oscar-winning movie. Karen (Heathcote) is a young college sophomore, eager to be accepted in his screenwriting class. She uses her charm to find her way into his bed… and class.

Michaels is a jaded screenwriter who can’t get past his fame for the one movie everyone loves, even though he had written two other movies. He doesn’t take his teaching seriously because he doesn’t know the first thing to cover. It takes a helpful student, a mom working two jobs with a passion for writing, to help bring Michaels back to life. He soon discovers that his students have a knack for writing and desires to help them succeed.

For a movie with low advertising, “The Rewrite” was pretty inspiring. Watching a group of students get through a writing class reminded me of the days I was taking creative writing in college.

From the rough draft at the beginning of the semester to the polished final copy, it reminded me how good it felt to have something written down that came out of your own head.

Keith Michaels is a mess. He’s lost his inspiration, his family, and his job. It takes a fresh start and a new atmosphere to make him remember what he loved about writing in the first place. He doesn’t make the best decisions in the beginning of his teaching career when he sleeps with a student. As he matures throughout the film, he realizes that teaching has helped his students learn about themselves as well.

Albeit, “The Rewrite” isn’t bound to earn awards for its clever writing or dramatic plot, however, it’s a hopeful movie about growing up and rediscovering your passion. Whether those watching are writers or not, it might inspire you to think about something you used to love doing and that’s why I think it deserves a “B”.